Comprehensive development of children in the process of working with natural material. What are natural materials

Beginning of autumn - the best time to collect natural wonders for children's creativity. Often at the beginning school year kindergarten teachers or teachers elementary school are asked to bring natural material for nature studies or labor lessons. However, interesting leaves, seeds and branches cannot be found near the house, you need to go to the park or forest for them. Such a walk with a child can be turned not only into a useful activity, but also make it a real holiday.

Why is it so important to collect natural material?

Only in the park and or on the edge of the forest can you find many branches, beautiful leaves, snags, flowers, cones and various seeds. So, natural materials are best collected during a small forest trip. There are many benefits in collecting natural material and then working with it.

• The child learns to see the features of leaves and branches, and by feeling and manipulating, he learns how different the texture can be. Some leaves are smooth to the touch, while others are rough. Some seeds are very tiny, while others, like those of a chestnut, are large.
• Only in practical activities it becomes clear to the child how strong this or that natural material is. It always happens that some of the collected leaves or snags have to be thrown out at home - not everything can be conveyed safe and sound. And it will be a big mistake to scold a child for a broken branch or flower. Knowledge of the world without this is not complete.
• Walking through the forest and looking for interesting leaves and snags is a pleasant and exciting experience for both you and your baby. Don't we often recent times depriving ourselves of pleasant things? When walking with your baby, do not forget to stop, look around and observe the seasonal changes in nature. Talk to him about autumn colors. Listen to the rustling of the leaves under your feet and smell their spicy scent. Together, find dried grass that has already "go to bed" for the winter. Autumn forest is special. Birds are almost inaudible in it and insects are not visible at all.
• To really find unusual seeds, leaves and branches, you often need to go away, examining not only the nearest edge, but also more remote forest corners. The health benefits of walking cannot be overestimated. Our children “grown” in gadgets are hypodynamic, and so are we. Therefore, while it is warm, it is worth tearing the child away from their favorite tablet or computer and going into the forest.
• We collect natural material so that at home, in kindergarten or school, the child has the opportunity to be creative. But we must not forget that any creative process begins in the forest. Ideas on how to apply this or that branch or cone are born almost immediately, during a forest walk. How to expect an interesting craft from a child if he has not “thought it out” in advance?

Together, not instead

The most common mistake, which parents allow - the collection of natural material without the participation of children. How does it usually happen? The teacher or teacher at school said to bring natural material next week, and the responsible mother after work runs into the nearest park or square and collects the first thing that comes to hand. We'll figure it out at home!

Let's be honest, in general, we often try to live “instead of” children and make decisions without taking into account their opinions. And then we are surprised at the reciprocal indifference and displeasure. But this is just a mirror of our relationship.

Those leaves and flowers that will be used for applications can be dried under pressure. Before drying, large petioles are removed from the leaves. Spread out plants in 3-4 layers are shifted with newspapers, and placed on top heavy load. Newspapers change daily. And after 5 days, drying will be completed. More fast way- ironing through sheets of paper. But it is not always possible to maintain the original color.

Another interesting but longer method of drying leaves and flowers is in pure sand or semolina. Plants are neatly laid out in a box and carefully covered with sand or grits. Then close the lid to bulk material not moistened, and leave the box at room temperature for 2-3 weeks.

Twigs, roses and dried flowers are usually bundled and dried in a hanging state. Chestnuts, acorns, hazelnuts and other seeds, as well as fruits, should not be forgotten to spread out in an open, ventilated place. Collected in autumn time, they are quite wet and in a closed box, and even more so plastic bag, covered with mold and simply rot.

How to use

Most often, parents store dried natural materials “away” from the child. How much work was invested - to find, bring, dry! What if it breaks or ruins?

However, in order to awaken creativity and the desire to experiment - you need to create an environment where creativity and experimentation are possible! Natural material, at least less brittle, must be stored in a place accessible to the child. So that he can, when there is a desire, open the box and try to do something on his own.

What is the role of parents? She's probably two.

Firstly, it is important to show how you can manipulate the found forest curiosities, that is, parents should teach you how to bend, cut off unnecessary, peel the bark ... It is worth showing the child that flat leaves can be glued to colored paper. Koryazhki - tie with a thread or soft wire. Acorns - connect to each other with plasticine or a piece of a match. Creating crafts for children, in addition to developing imagination, is a great opportunity to learn how to use glue, scissors and other tools. In addition, it is a sure way to develop fine motor skills hands, and therefore speech.

"! Today we will talk about natural materials that can be used to make crafts. After all, crafts made from natural materials introduce children not only to beauty, but develop Creative skills. When introducing children to creativity, parents need to draw their attention to the beauty of flowers, trees, leaves, shells, their color, shape.

Let's look at the basic materials for crafts:

BRANCHES AND ROOTS
Branches and roots are a material that is often used in crafts. From them you can make arms, legs, neck and the like.

CONES

Cones are excellent material for voluminous crafts. Of these, you can make animals or humans. The cones are varied in appearance and stick well to each other. For crafts, it is preferable to use unopened cones, as they are more convenient to work with.

It is better to pick up cones from moist soil, since such material dries more slowly and retains its shape longer.

ACORNS

From acorns, you can make figurines of little men, various details for other crafts, and more.

Acorns begin to ripen in September - October. It is preferable to collect them when they are already ripe and fallen off. Only clean healthy acorns are suitable for crafts. Together with them, it is desirable to collect plushies, which can be useful for various crafts.

Fresh acorns are easier to work with and last longer. Dried acorns are easily split during processing. So, for example, from oblong acorns you can make a giraffe, a donkey, a horse, etc.

CHESTNUT

Chestnut fruits have a beautiful shiny bright brown surface. The shell of a fresh chestnut is easily pierced with an awl. From whole fruits, you can make a head and torso for dolls.

CORN COBS

From them you can make figurines of birds, horses or other animals. For work, it is good to use cobs that have just begun to ripen. It will be easier for children to work with such material, that is, they can do everything they need on their own - cut, glue, pierce, etc.

Leaves that have been separated from the cobs can also come in handy. For example, you can make a dragonfly, a hare, a mouse and much more from them.

STRAW

The straw is flexible, smooth and odorous. You can use wheat, rice and oat straw for work. The main thing is that the stems intended for crafts are not crumpled.

Straw crafts are made by tying and sewing bundles, weaving and gluing. You can even make an appliqué out of straw. To do this, it is evaporated, then cut into two parts and glued onto tracing paper.

LEAVES

Leaves serve as a good material for making additional details of crafts. Due to the variety of shapes and colors, they find any application. For example, they can become a sail, butterfly wings or fish fins.

SEEDS

Seeds from trees, flowers, and other plants are wonderful additional craft materials. Maple and ash seeds are perfect for this purpose, from which wings, fins, ears can be made, and animal paws can be obtained from linden seeds. Sunflower seeds, melon, watermelon are well suited for the eyes.

NUTS AND NUTS SHELLS

Can be used to make crafts different kinds nuts. They are suitable as a material for making heads of toy people, animals, etc.

Pine nuts are used as additional material for crafts. They are easily pierced with an awl and stick together well.

Peanuts are very convenient for making crafts. Due to the thin shell, they are easily pierced and cut. From them you can make original figurines of animals.

BARK AND BEREST

The bark is used for coasters in the formation of various scenes and individual crafts made from natural material.

In addition, it is excellent as an additional material. To make bark products look more attractive, they can be varnished.

Separately, it should be said about birch bark (birch bark). This is a very good and durable material, great for crafts. For them, they use the bark of birches that grew on dry soils, as it is more dense and flexible.

NEEDLES

Hedgehog needles, butterfly antennae can be made from needles. It is collected at any time of the year in places where coniferous trees grow. Keep needles in a box.

BERRIES

Various and interesting crafts can be made from berries. Rose hips and mountain ash are especially suitable for this purpose.

They work with this material in the summer, as fresh berries are easily pierced with pine needles and matches.

water lilies

In their shape, the fruits of the water lily are similar to a jug with a narrow neck. They can be used as an additional material in the manufacture of animal heads, dishes and other parts. Before you start working with them, the fruits are dried. Store the material in a dry and cool place.

cattail

Cattail grows along the banks of lakes, ponds and rivers. From the Inflorescence of cattail, you can make funny animal figures or various items. The leaves are narrow and long. They can also be used in making crafts.

DECORATIVE PUMPKINS

Decorative pumpkin can be of a wide variety of shapes and shades. This is great material for unusual crafts, as it is easy to process, and after drying it is well stored.

Decorative pumpkins make excellent jugs, lamps, candlesticks, and more.

GRASS AND MOSS

Grass and moss are good to use as an addition to crafts. But remember that the grass becomes brittle after drying. It is usually used to fasten any details of crafts, and moss is used as a background, especially since it is easily glued.

CITRUS PEEL

The zest is well suited for the manufacture of various crafts. You can also make an application out of it.

SAND

The technique of working with sand is simple: draw a contour of a figure or an ornament on thick paper, cover it with glue and sprinkle with sand. To make the craft look more beautiful, the sand is tinted in the desired color.

SHELLS

Due to their bizarre shape, shells, in combination with other materials, can easily be turned into unusual flowers. Very often, shells are used to decorate jewelry boxes, photo frames and coasters. Seascapes decorated with shells look very beautiful.

Shells can be used not only for making animal figurines, but also as an additional material. Like sand, shells are attached to the surface of the product with glue.

STONES

Stones for crafts can be found on the banks of rivers, screes, the bottom of streams, ravines, etc. Pebbles are used to make crafts, and it is desirable to use translucent and colored stones with an unusual pattern.

SAWDUST

Before starting work, sawdust is passed through a sieve to weed out large chips, and then painted with gouache in the required colors. After that, a mosaic can be made from sawdust. As a basis, it is recommended to take plywood, colored cardboard, thick paper. The contour of the drawing is applied to it, the sections of which are then smeared with glue, and sawdust of the color that is needed according to the drawing is poured into this place. When the glue dries, shake off the remaining sawdust. The process is repeated until the work is completed. Small details are completed with pencils or paints.

BIRD FEATHERS

Bird feathers are also used in making crafts. It can be feathers of chickens, ducks, sparrows, pigeons and other birds.

Additional materials for crafts are:

WIRE AND THREADS

Wire (see) and threads are needed for fastening various parts crafts.

PAPER AND FOIL

Paper is writing, filter, poster, envelope, landscape, wallpaper, velvet, poster, cover, copy, wrapping and parchment (read). Each of these types differs in thickness, color, density and purpose.

Foil is often used to decorate bookbindings and crafts.

PLASTICINE

For fastening parts of simple toys, as well as for sculpting some details of crafts on early stages works use plasticine.

COLORED PATCHES

Colored patches are also useful for decorating crafts, which can be used both as a decoration for plot scenes, and for making clothes, etc.

The main craft tools are:

AWL

A needle with a handle is called an awl. The length of its handle should be about 5-7 cm, diameter - 1.5-2 mm; the length of the stabbing part is 3–3.5 mm.

SCISSORS

For the manufacture of crafts, scissors are needed, preferably small, with blunt ends, so as not to accidentally get hurt.

KNIFE

A knife for working on crafts is better to use a small and blunt end.

NEEDLE

For crafts, you may need a large sewing needle.

SIMPLE PENCIL

Simple pencils of varying softness will be needed to outline the paper before cutting out details or toys.

PAINTS

To decorate individual parts of the craft, you will definitely need paints. Gouache paints are especially good, as they are bright, thick and adhere well to the painted surface.

BRUSHES

It is better to draw with soft squirrel brushes No. 4 and 6, and for glue you will need bristle brushes.

STACKS

Stacks are used when processing surfaces made of clay or plasticine.

TWEEZERS

To twist the wire in the manufacture of crafts from straw and other materials, you will need tweezers. These can be manicure or with a flattened twisted front part.

FITTING TOOLS

Tools such as pliers, pliers and a drill must be used in the presence of an adult.

This concludes the first publication on crafts made from natural materials.

Now watch a video about what crafts can be made from natural materials.

natural material

It is necessary to introduce children to the world of beauty as early as possible: draw their attention to the beauty of flowers, fruits various plants, autumn leaves, bizarre shape and color sea ​​shells and inhabitants of the underwater kingdom. For each plant, you can notice the originality of the appearance: the shape of the leaves, their colors, surfaces, etc., since all this must be taken into account when working with natural material. It is necessary at every lesson, during excursions into nature, to remind children that they should treat nature in a businesslike manner, protect a flower, shrub, any plant from senseless destruction.

Consider some types of plant material most commonly used for various crafts in kindergarten.

Cones (Fig. 1). Fruit coniferous trees- cones are an excellent material for voluminous toys and entertaining crafts. In shape, they resemble parts of the torso of animals, humans. Cones stick together well, they are diverse in shape, size and appearance: cedar, cypress, fir, spruce, pine. For making crafts, it is better to use unopened cones, as they are easier to work with.

It is desirable to collect cones (especially pine cones) on moist soil so that they dry out more slowly and retain their shape longer. After collection, they need to be sorted by type, shape and size and put into separate boxes.

Needles. For crafting toys, such as a hedgehog, spider legs and cat claws, butterfly antennae, doll skirts, coniferous needles are suitable. They can be collected at any time of the year. There are many needles in those places where pines, spruces, cedars grow. You can store them in boxes. In work, it is better to use green needles.

Nuts (Fig. 2). In kindergarten, in the manufacture of toys, you can use forest, walnuts, ground and pine nuts, pistachios.

hazelnuts common in forests middle lane THE USSR. They are used as a material for the manufacture of heads of toy people (for example, a "cheerful little man"), animals (the head of a cockerel, a hare, etc.). Hazelnuts should be harvested when ripe in August, along with a hat (plus), which can also be used in the manufacture of toys. Nuts are dried on boards, stored in boxes.

Hazelnut shells are hard. It is hard to cut with a knife or pierce with an awl. It is difficult to work with overdried nuts, so it is advisable not to use them.

Pine nuts can be useful as an additional material in the manufacture of paws of animals, fists of forest men; they are easily pierced with an awl, stick together well.

Shell walnuts(in the form of halves) is used for crafting boats, carts, turtles, beetles, etc. Both halves of the shell are suitable for making, for example, the head of Santa Claus.

You can crack the nuts into the correct halves with a knife, tapping on it from above with a hammer. To prevent the nut from jumping and popping out, it must be clamped in a small vise or with pliers. This work needs to be done only by the educator.

peanuts very convenient in the work on the manufacture of toys; they are easily pierced, cut, as their shell is thin. Peanuts are used to make original figurines of animals (dog, cat). You can store nuts in a dry place, as their shells do not harden when dried.

Chestnut (Fig. 2). Chestnut fruits are a good material for making simple toys. They have a beautiful shiny surface and a bright brown color. The shell of a fresh chestnut is thin, easily pierced with an awl. Whole chestnuts can be used to make doll heads and bodies. Store chestnuts preferably in a cool place.

Acorns (Fig. 3). Oak fruits - there are acorns different shapes and magnitude. At one end, they are surrounded by a strongly overgrown cup - plush. Acorns ripen in autumn, in September - October. They are recommended to be harvested when they are ripe and fall from the tree. For the manufacture of toys from acorns, they should not be collected rotten or rotten. Simultaneously with the acorns, their cups (pluses) are also collected, on which they are held. Pluski very good material in addition to the acorn, they are often used for various crafts. Acorns should be collected different in size and shape. For the manufacture of toys, it is desirable to use fresh acorns, as they last longer and are easier to work with (dried acorns easily split during processing).

Acorns are very convenient for making figurines of funny people, animals, various parts to toys made from other natural materials. From oblong acorns they make a giraffe, a heron, a horse, a donkey, and the body can be made from a large oblong acorn, and the head from a small, round one. When making funny little men, plushies can be used as hats for them.

Acorns are stored in a cool and humid place.

Bark (Fig. 3–4). It differs in appearance (color, thickness, surface character). Pine, oak, birch bark (medium thickness) is used for coasters in the manufacture of various scenes and individual toys from natural material. In addition, it can be used as an additional material for making toys. From it you can make a stump for a balalaika player, a roof and hanging trailers for a carousel, simple punt boats.

Coasters and toys made of bark look better if they are varnished, as in this case Brown color the bark acquires a particularly beautiful shade.

Birch bark - birch bark (Fig. 4) - one of the most beautiful and durable materials for making toys. AT folk art Russia has long been famous for products made of birch bark. For work, it is advisable to use the bark of birches grown on dry soils, as it is more dense, strong and flexible.

It is desirable to collect birch bark in the spring and early summer when it is easily removed and has the most best color, and only from birch trees and branches that are tumbled down in a storm or cut down. The birch bark is removed as follows: an incision is made along the branch or trunk and around the circumference, a strip 20–25 cm wide. The removed bark is cleaned of dirt, moss, wiped with inside damp cloth and outside skinned.

Birch bark from fresh (cut down by lumberjacks or felled by a storm) trees easily delaminates and can be processed, especially if it is placed in hot water(to steam out). After steaming, the strips of birch bark must be placed under the board with the load, it will be even.

Birch bark is stored in a dry and cool place, as it quickly loses its flexibility from the sun and curls. This property of birch bark can be used to create some toys. To make the birch bark twisted, it is enough to lower it for a few minutes in hot water and dry it. As it dries, the birch bark will curl.

Branches (Fig. 5). A variety of branches are used in the manufacture of some parts of the craft: arms, legs, neck, etc. For this purpose, it is better to use branches of dogwood, pine, spruce, lilac. Their branches are resilient and do not break easily when dry.

Collecting branches is a job that requires time, patience, and accuracy. At the same time, it is necessary to constantly remind children that trees need to be protected and only dry, but not too dry branches should be collected and used for toys.

Roots (Fig. 5). Roots can also be used for crafts. They are sometimes their bizarre forms resemble various animals or parts of their bodies. Here, figurative vision and observation are especially important, which must be developed in children. Children's fantasy in the curved roots will help to see the octopus, spider, etc.

Many old roots or their offshoots can be found along the banks of rivers. When collecting this material, children should also be reminded that the roots of living trees are inviolable.

The collected roots should be washed and stored in a room with moderate humidity.

Leaves (Fig. 5). An interesting and necessary addition in the manufacture of toys are leaves. They can be of a wide variety of shapes and colors. Children use a large leaf of oak, maple as a sail for a yacht, raft, steamer. The leaves can also be used to make butterfly wings, fish fins (these toys are made from cones and leaves). collect leaves better in autumn when they are especially beautiful.

To save and use the leaves, they must be properly harvested. To do this, the collected leaves of plants are placed between paper sheets and ironed with a warm iron, then they can be shifted with thick paper or thin cardboard and a load placed on top. At long-term storage paper or cardboard between the leaves should be changed from time to time.

Seeds. A valuable addition to toys made from natural materials can be seeds of trees, flowers, vegetables, such as seeds of maple, ash. They are known to children as lionfish. From them you can make wings for a dragonfly, ears for a hare, fins for a fish, and antennas for astronauts, animal paws are good from linden seeds; from the seeds of watermelon, melon, sunflower, large seeds of flowers such as dawn, azure flowers, you can make eyes. It is better to collect seeds in the fall.

Rosehip, mountain ash (Fig. 6). Various and interesting toys can be made from rose hips and rowan berries. valuable quality of this material is the availability of its use in work. Rose hips and mountain ash are easily pricked, so the technique for making toys from this material is simple.

work with material better in summer, since fresh berries and fruits are easily pierced with pine needles, wires, matches.

Berries are unsuitable for storage, as when dried they harden and lose their shape.

Various toys can be made from rose hips and rowan berries: gnomes and little men, dogs and kittens, a donkey, bright beads, etc.

Water lilies. The fruits of the water lily are shaped like a jug with a narrow neck. Water lilies are used to make animal heads, dishes and other toys and their parts. The collected fruits are dried before work. The stock of this material is stored in a dry and cool room.

Corn cobs (Fig. 7). Corn cobs are also used to make toys.

Work with this material can be organized if children grow corn on their site. Cobs should be used without grains!

Various figures are made from them: birds, horses, etc. For work, it is better to use the cobs during the ripening period of corn, then the children will be able to perform all the necessary operations on their own, without the help of an adult (make cuts, cut, pierce, glue, etc.). After drying, this material is more difficult to process, so its use in the manufacture of toys becomes undesirable.

Leaves separated from the cobs are also useful in work. They are soft and easy to handle. From them you can make a hare, a mouse, a dragonfly, a doll, as well as a variety of handbags, belts, ribbons, decorations for a doll’s dress, bookmarks for books, etc. Before work, the leaves are dried, rolled into a wet wrung out cloth (the leaves are laid out at the same time thin layer) for 2-3 hours, after which they take out the amount that is necessary for the manufacture of the toy.

Straw. It is pleasant to work with straw: it is smooth, flexible, odorous. For crafts, straw is used not only from wheat, but also from oats and rice. It can be collected during excursions to the grain field after the harvest. Straw stalks intended for work must be intact. They are cut into pieces, according to the existing knees, which are not suitable for work and are cut out. It is better to sort the straw by length, width, and so store until the next summer season. Before work, the straw is soaked in boiling water and left in water for a day in a sealed container, after which it becomes flexible and elastic.

Straw toys are made by tying and sewing bundles, weaving from a whole strip, weaving from smooth, ironed straw and gluing. For application, the straw after evaporation is cut into two parts lengthwise and glued onto tracing paper. To obtain various shades, the glued straw is ironed with an iron heated to different temperatures. Glue the straw carefully, carefully applying one part to the other, leaving no gaps. The result is whole pieces of straw. An outline of the image (a bird, an animal, flowers, etc.) is applied to them with a pencil and cut out, the figures are glued onto some fabric or paper, wood (preferably dark in color). This is the easiest way to work with straw. To obtain a more artistic image, the contour of the chosen figure is applied to paper. After that, the image is folded in parts, taking into account the main relief lines, which is achieved by varying the directions of the straw. (With the help of a teacher, children do all kinds of work.)

If the straws are with shades, then it is necessary to take into account not only the direction of the fibers, but also the shades.

Straws can be dyed in various colors. It sticks well with PVA glue. Straw is used to make original, colorful and attractive toys: dolls, animals, fairy tale characters, etc.

Cattail (Fig. 8). Many residents of the south are well aware of the bright, brown, soft and delicate inflorescence of cattail, the thickets of which are common along the shores of lakes, ponds, and rivers. cattail inflorescences - interesting material, easy to process. It makes funny animal figurines (bears, kittens, etc.), as well as various objects.

Cattail leaves (narrow and long) can also be used in the manufacture of toys, but only after processing, like corn leaves.

Decorative pumpkins. They come in different shapes and shades. Pumpkins are used to make various crafts, such as Baba Yaga figurines, girls, etc.; this material is easily processed and, drying, is well preserved.

Grass. Various herbs can be used as an addition to the craft, but we must remember that the grass becomes brittle when it dries. Grass is used to fasten (bind) the details of the craft.

Moss. In the manufacture of toys, moss is more often used to convey the background, images of vegetation, etc. Moss is easily glued with various glues.

Bird feathers. In the work you can use bird feathers different sizes, shades, and any quality (chicken feathers, duck, goose, feathers of sparrows, pigeons, etc.). Before work, the feathers are washed, dried and combed to restore their natural look.

Shells (Fig. 11–12). On the banks of rivers, seas, lakes, you can see shell-houses abandoned by animals, many of which are interesting in appearance, original in shape - oval, scallop-shaped, heart-shaped, etc.

The collection of shells is made by children together with the teacher during walks, excursions. After collection, the shells are washed with a small brush (you can use a toothbrush), after which they are laid out and dried. Dry shells are sorted by type and size. They are stored at any temperature.

From shells, you can make animal figures (squirrels, dogs, cats, hares, chickens, crocodile, etc.). Shells are also used as additional material (cheburashka's ears, birds' wings, flower petals, etc.).

Crafts and decorations made from natural materials are the brightest trend recent years. Many needlewomen also master new techniques - crafts made of wood, stones or dried fruits. Read our article about using dried oranges for decoration.

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As a child, I passionately dreamed of making with my own hands those amazing things that are shown in tutorials on various hobbies. But the required level of motor skills was not there. My parents did not want to bother with collecting materials, and my dreams began to come true only after I gave birth to my own daughter. Having an apartment, a child and maximalism at my disposal, I soon got a real dream: my whole apartment was littered with dry, crumbling or, conversely, slowly rotting natural materials. My daughter and I dragged these materials with enthusiasm from every walk. As a result, we only got fir cones, which are hard to mess up, and a couple of maple leaves. Since that autumn, I began to prepare materials for crafts according to my own methodology.

The first thing you need for a good harvest is a good plan:

• what will you collect
• what will you make of it
• what space in the house are you ready to allocate for drying materials,
• where will you store them later.

The amount of materials depends on two factors: your interest in the production of crafts and the interest of the teacher (or kindergarten teacher). The interests of the child can be completely neglected - he uses everything that will be in the house. The question is whether you can then remove it all. So, the calculations are pretty simple: your ideal idea of ​​how many crafts you will make, minus 50% of that, plus the cost of preparing decorations for the New Year.

On average, for a mother who is not a fan, 20-30 maple leaves, 10 flowers, a package of spruce cones, half a package of pine cones are enough.

A matchbox of various seeds: snub noses, marigold seeds, and so on - whatever you personally like. Stones and sand can also come in handy (especially when building cities). Stones big size three pieces are enough (a large one is the size of an adult palm), medium-sized stones - according to the number of family members who should be gifted (it is convenient to make gifts for the New Year on them), small stones - 10-15 pieces, very small stones - each needs (someone doesn’t need it, but it’s up to someone to pave two meters). Also collect branches based on your needs and desires.

How to collect natural materials

It is best to collect natural materials during the day in sunny weather. Or at least not on a rainy day. Firstly, you will see well what you take, and secondly, you will have to dry less. chestnuts, acorns and Maple leaves collect, of course, in season. The same applies to branches - they must be without leaves. Branches can be taken in the forest, spruce, pine and any deciduous, covered with lichens, or already in the park-square, but when the trees throw off their leaves.

Going "to work", for each individual material, have your own container. This will make it easier to disassemble the houses, and it will be clear how much you have collected. Stones-bumps-branches can be collected in a regular plastic bag(or a rag bag), boxes are needed for flowers and seeds.

For big flowers- a box of children's shoes, for little ones - matchboxes. Do not take a lot at once - it is better to divide the collection of natural materials into several stages. It's like with mushrooms - envious eyes, and then you can't sleep at night, sorting and cleaning.

a photo Mirina

How to dry collected materials

So, the obtained "harvest" must be dried, and so that it retains its properties and beauty. The branches are dried on the windowsill, on newspapers in several layers. From branches, especially those covered with lichens, all sorts of spider bugs will crawl out, so be prepared for this. They will also crawl out of the cones, which are dried in the same way - on newspapers. Pine cones dry much longer than spruce cones and will open when dried. The seeds of both spruce and pine cones are quite volatile, so if you have any big box(for example, from boots with high tops) - it is better to cover its bottom with newspapers and dry the cones in it. Flowers and herbs are dried in a very special way - depending on the bud and its height, they are dried either upside down, hung out like in Baba Yaga's hut, or in semolina. In order to dry a voluminous flower, you need to take a cup, pour about two fingers of semolina on its bottom, carefully lower the flower with a bud down and slowly and carefully continue to sprinkle semolina on all sides. Dry preferably in a warm place. The "herbarium samples", which will then go on postcards, are dried between newspapers under a load, changing newspapers every day. Please note that flowers and herbs are not ironed! This is the prerogative of the leaves, and even then not all. The leaves dry well between the pages of books. Stones and sand are thoroughly washed, dried and put away in a box. Apple seeds and other "homemade" natural materials are collected during the cooking process and dried in matchboxes.